PRINCETON — While Princeton’s 42-26 win over Lafayette Saturday afternoon wasn’t quite as convincing as the Tigers’ previous two blowouts against Georgetown and Columbia, it may actually bode better for the upcoming Ivy slate.

Down 20-11 after the first quarter, the Tigers rallied to grab a one-point halftime lead. In the second half, the defense that had looked so porous early on clamped down while quarterback Quinn Epperly and the offense continued their historic roll, giving Princeton the big non-conference win.

“You feel so proud of the group, because we’ve been in some games where at halftime the score was a little lopsided,” coach Bob Surace said. “I was so excited going into halftime as a coach, because you need to prepare for all these situations.”

The story of the first quarter was Lafaytette tailback and former Allentown Redbird Ross Scheuerman. Though the Tigers got on the board first when Epperly found receiver Roman Wilson, Scheuerman took his first touch from scrimmage 69 yards to the house. The junior would then score on the next two Lafayette possessions.

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“I would say the biggest thing is that we weren’t gap responsible in the first quarter,” said Princeton safety Matt Arends, who led the team with 10 tackles. “We weren’t as physical as we could have been.”

Kicker Nolan Bieck hit a 30-yard field goal on Princeton’s second possession, and Epperly found Wilson again midway through the second quarter. Because the Tigers had converted a two-point conversion a trick screen pass from punter Tyler Roth and blocked a Lafayette extra point, they were down just 20-18 as halftime approached.

With just 19 seconds remaining before intermission and the ball on the Lafayette 23 yard line, Surace had a decision to make on fourth-and-3. At that point, Bieck had only converted two of six field goal opportunities on the season, including a pair of crucial misses against Lehigh. Surace, however, let the sophomore attempt the 40-yarder and Bieck split the uprights for the longest made field goal of his career.

“It was like we scored a touchdown on an interception return, because the sideline was so jubilant,” Surace said.

The Tigers pulled away in the second half, with Epperly finding Connor Kelly and Des Smith for scores in the third quarter and finishing the Leopards off with a one-yard touchdown dive in the fourth. Because Lafayette was committed to bringing pressure, Kelley was often matched up one-on-one down the sidelines, and finished with 108 yards on eight catches.

“The way our offense is designed, a lot of guys are contributing,” Kelly said. “We’re working extremely hard all week long in practice, and that’s just how it works. One week one guy will have a breakout game.”

Though the defense did give up a 37-yard flea flicker, it also recovered a fumble and twice picked off Lafayette quarterback Andrew Dzurik. For a unit that had emphasized turnovers all season but had failed to produce them, Saturday offered some validation.

“I think the biggest thing is that we knew they were coming, it was just when they were going to come,” Arends said. “They came today, and they came in bunches.”

Though Epperly — who accounted for five total touchdowns on the day and now has 15 in the last three games — got most of the snaps around the goal line, Connor Michelsen was also effective, completing 15 of 35 passes for 174 yards. Despite Lafayette blitzing more than any of the other teams the Tigers have faced this season, neither quarterback was sacked once.

“It kind of felt like you were playing against Rex Ryan-ish type stuff, where they were just throwing a lot at you,” Surace said. “I thought for our offensive line and running backs not to give up any sacks, that was really good.”

Though no Princeton player finished with over 60 yards rushing, they were able to take the air out of the game by pounding the Leopards late.

“Will Powers and different guys ran the ball so hard at the end,” Surace said. “Our line came off the ball so well. We’ll come in tomorrow with a good feeling.

Considering that three of the Tigers next four games will be against the top three team’s in the Ivy League’s preseason media poll, it wasn’t the worst thing in the world that the Tigers showed they could overcome a little earlier adversity.

“We’re not going to play many blowouts anymore,” Surace said. “I don’t see a blowout left on our schedule.”

NOTES: Receiver Seth DeValve was held out of the game with a minor shoulder injury…Roman Wilson was held out for a majority of the second half with an injured hand.

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Trentonian sportswriter and utility man. New York Jets, Princeton basketball, Mercer/Bucks county high schools, Trenton Thunder. Tulane grad. Former Times-Picayune and NFL.com intern. Reach the author at nperuffo@trentonian.com
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